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US 2003/0147420 A1Published application
Wireless communications hub with protocol conversion
OwnerRobert W. Beckwithinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A wireless hub uses a first processor to communicate with IEDs, uses a second processor to communicate with landline SCADA, and uses a third processor to extract, store and exchange messages between SCADA protocols and IED protocols so as to as to permit two way communications between SCADA devices and IED which are independent of protocol and time of exchange.
Claims20
A communications hub as an interface device between land line devices and IEDs comprising in combination:
- a) wireless transceiver means for exchanging digital bit-streams in either direction between said IEDs and said hub,
- b) first processor means in said hub for exchanging bit-streams in either direction with said IEDs via said wireless transceivers,
- c) second processor means in said hub for exchanging bit-streams in either direction with land line devices,
- d) third processor means in said hub for communicating digitally with either said first processor or with said second processor,
- e) third processor program means for exchanging bit-streams in either direction with said IEDs via said first processor,
- f) third processor program means for exchanging bit-streams in either direction with said land line devices via said second processor,
- g) program means in said third processor for extracting messages contained in said bit-streams and converting message protocols in either direction between that of IEDs and that of land line devices, and
- h) storage means in said third processor for storing messages for a selected time before sending in either direction through said hub
- whereby communications through said hub are not constrained by individual protocols or by time of transmission or reception.
6 more elements
A communications hub comprising in combination:
- a) a first microprocessor means for processing bit-streams in either direction using a plurality of first message protocols,
- b) digital port means for said first microprocessor exchanging bit-streams in either direction with first outside sources,
- c) a second microprocessor means for processing bit-streams in either direction using a plurality of second message protocols,
- d) digital port means for said second microprocessor exchanging bit-streams in either direction with second outside sources,
- e) a third microprocessor means for storing, converting message protocols and exchanging digital bit-streams in either direction with said first microprocessor for communications with said first outside sources, and
- f) said third microprocessor also having means for storing, converting message protocols and exchanging digital bit-streams in either direction with said second microprocessor for communications with said second outside sources.
3 more elements
A method of providing communications between IEDs and land line devices, said method comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a communications hub having multiple digital processors for processing bit-streams flowing between a land line device and addressed IEDs,
- b) connecting bit-streams flowing between a first of said processors in the format of said IEDs,
- c) connecting bit-streams flowing between a land line device and a second of said processors in the format of said device,
- d) selectively switching between communicating between said first and a third of said processors and communicating between said second and said third processor,
- e) in said third processor, converting messages in the protocol of said IEDs, as contained in bit-streams flowing between said IEDs and said hub, into a generic format,
- f) in said third processor, converting messages in the protocol of said land line devices, as contained in bit-streams flowing between said land line devices and said hub, into a generic format,
- g) in said third processor, using generic formats for converting messages in either direction between IED formats and land line device formats, and
- h) storing said converted messages in said third processors for subsequent transmission,
- whereby communications through said hub are not constrained by individual protocols or by time of transmission or reception.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.